The Community Cats Podcast

Formerly a “true blue dog person,” Betsy tells about the kitten on a woodpile outside her house that fueled her interest in assisting community cats. She also addresses the challenges found on the human side of the equation in animal welfare and rescues: small organizations often lack the infrastructure that would allow them to best benefit from their volunteers’ capabilities, rely too much on their founders, and overworked volunteers frequently “burn out”. A better solution, she says, is match peoples’ ability, skills and passion in a way that will best help the organization’s mission and the cause.

To find out more visit the The Human Society of the United States online.

When Scott accepted the challenge of joining the Washington Humane Society, their live release rate was 28%...today it is 90%. Scott outlines the various programs that have moved the dial, including improved coordination and cooperation with animal control, their Pets for Life program, and targeted TNR that fixed over 2500 cats last year alone. Today, he’s working with local authorities on helping more low income individuals keep their cats to reduce abandonment with a “Pets in Housing” program. Plus, he lovingly shares his passion for socializing feral kittens, and his foster failures, the “Gang of Four."

To find out more visit the Washington Humane Society online.

Interview! Sarah-Jane Farrell, Multi Sensory and Forensic Medical Intuitive

“The trust process is the first step in our ability to trust that we are enough. It is as ancient as humankind.”

Sarah-Jane Farrell is a pragmatic psychologist who specializes in healing trauma through utilizing the animal relationships in our lives. Sarah-Jane grew up in Zimbabwe, where she always felt that animals understood her more than people did. She has always been struck by the animal ability to live in the present moment and only focus on necessities, whereas humans often “live from the head instead of the heart.” To counter this habit, she encourages her clients to trust themselves and their natural instincts, as well as to observe and learn from the animals in their lives. Sarah-Jane has been fortunate enough to study the lions of the Zimbabwe savannah, and has learned much about interdependence and intergenerational wisdom from these majestic wild cats.

Sarah-Jane offers online courses on how to rebuild your “trust process” and harness your innate healing abilities. You can sign up for these courses at accessurtruenature.com, as well as learn a little more about Sarah-Jane and her practice. You can also find a variety of video tutorials on her YouTube channel, or connect with her on Facebook.

Still not convinced? Here are some free demos for helping our feline companions from Sarah-Jane:

Interview! Gavin Ehringer, Author of Leaving the Wild: The Unnatural History of Dogs, Cats, Cows and Horses

“It’s not enough to take care of animals after they’re born, we have to think about their circumstances before the act of breeding even takes place."

Gavin takes a critical look at breeding and how our values shape our animals for good and bad in his new book, Wild. The book actually began about 5 years ago when he got the idea about writing about how animals came to be domesticated. He decided to put his entire life into the book and went out on the road in an RV and did research all over the United States for the book.

He looks at the history of dogs, cats, cows and horses and how they willingly left the wild in exchange for our care, along with how that relates to what they deal with now in modern times. He digs into what the consequences have been to them becoming domesticated.

For instance, with cats, the invention of kitty litter I the 1940’s really changed the game for them becoming an indoor pet. A man was using a similar material to absorb oil on the floor of his garage when a neighbor came over and asked to use it for her cat. Voila, and industry was born! It completely changed the game for cats on becoming indoor pets.

Gavin also found interesting research around the millennial and their cat ownership rates. Cats have only recently surpassed dogs as America’s most popular pet, and more than likely we can than the millennials for that! Because cats are easy to care for and fit into their urban lifestyles very well, adoption rates have skyrocketed with this generation. It also gives them social credibility by adopting through shelters and off the streets.

Believe it or not, Gavin didn’t have a very positive view of community cats before he wrote the book. He viewed them as destroyers of wildlife. But after his research, he learned how TNR can be so effective and can be the long-term solution. He believes the whole community needs to get involved in these issues and there needs to be long-term discussions if they hope to decrease the amount of animals living and suffering on the streets.

To grab Gavin’s book, head over to www.leavingthewild.com.

It’s the passion of people like Bonney Brown that fuels today's conversation on the vital role spay and neuter programs play in controlling cat overpopulation. We reminisce about the early days of trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs and explore how her journey, from being inspired by her parents’ rescue endeavors to leading impactful animal welfare initiatives, underscores the importance of accessible veterinary care and community collaboration.

Navigate the complex landscape of non-profit veterinary clinics, shedding light on how they operate financially and serve local communities with compassion and efficiency. We also discuss the nuances of staffing, from leveraging the expertise of retired veterinarians to creating supportive environments for part-time staff free from the pressures of upselling. Discover why these models cater so effectively to demographics in need, like senior citizens, and how they adapt to ensure everyone has access to the care they deserve.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Passion for community cat welfare
• Nonprofit vs. traditional veterinary practice
• Recruiting part-time veterinarians for nonprofit clinic
• Consulting services for animal welfare organizations
• Promoting podcast engagement and connection

Resources from this Episode

Humane Network's Website - http://www.humanenetwork.org

Options Veterinary Care's Website - www.optionsveterinarycare.org

Find Humane Network on Instagram - https://www.facebook.com/HumaneNetwork

Find Options Veterinary Care on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/OptionsVeterinaryCare

Bonnie's Previous Episodes - Episode 364 (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/episode-364-bonney-brown-diane-blankenburg/), Episode 30 (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/episode-30-bonney-brown/), and Episode 181 (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/episode-181-bonney-brown/)

This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies554), Urban Cat League (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/urban-cat-league), and Tomahawk Live Trap. (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/tomahawk)

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.